Suspected drug dealer killed in shoot-out with police

LAMPHUN, Feb 4 – A suspected drug dealer was killed in gunfight with the police following an attempt to speed through a checkpoint in the northern province of Lamphun on Monday evening.

Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Bureau Region 5, Pol Maj Chamnan Ruadrew said the suspect, identified as Noppon Petchkirirat, a 25 year-old resident of Tak province, was killed in the shootout. His body was later found in a 50-metre deep gorge on the side of Lamphun-Lee Road at km 46 in Ta Sob Sao sub-district of Maeta district along with a shotgun.

Police searched his pick-up truck which was loaded with 1.2 million meth pills, or Ya Ba, worth more than Bt360 million, hidden in 14 bags underneath fruit baskets.

Initial investigation found that Mr Noppon attempted to deliver meth pills from a neighbouring country. He was driving from Chiang Mai province and tried to flee the scene upon reaching the checkpoint in Lamphun. The shoot-out began when the police followed him on foot into the roadside bush.